Parala suicides: Kin writes to Odisha CM for expediting probe

Amulya Patra, brother of deceased Ananga Manjari Patra, the former manager of Paralakhemundi Maharaja Gajapati Gopinath Narayan Deb, today wrote a letter to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urging expedition of probe into the alleged suicides of his siblings.

In the letter, Amulya has alleged that Crime Branch investigation into the incident has turned sluggish and demanded immediate arrest of the accused by expediting the probe.

He also sent a copy of the letter to Home Secretary, DGP, Gajapati Collector and SP.

He had earlier lodged a complaint with the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) alleging tardy progress in the investigations by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch.

It may be recalled that the body of Ananga Manjari Patra and her two other siblings was recovered from her Jangam Sahi residence on August 21 last year.

Another brother, Santosh, was rescued from the house, where he was found lying on the floor, in a critical condition. The following day, he died at MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

Three suicide notes were later recovered from the residence wherein names of 11 persons were mentioned. The writers of the notes had held local MLA K Surya Rao and a particular television channel responsible for their deaths.

It is worth mentioning here that Rao had led a campaign demanding action against the Ananga and her brother who worked as a personal assistant to the king for keeping the Maharaja under house arrest and trying to sell off royal properties.